I been thinking about what Richard said: he didn’t need me. He could get two people who don’t even speak English to do the same job as I did. And even if they did a worst job, its okay, but its not a position that needs an expert, just a body. Ouch! It’s been burning me every time I think of it. It forced me to really rethink: why am I coming to this job?
And to make it worst, William, my favorite manager, had his final day today. He’s been in this industry for 40 years and at Shelly Sholes for about seven. His silvery white hair and pale caramel skin made him a father-like figure, along with his high restaurant IQ. I respected him with no questions. When I wasn’t sure about his decisions, I could calmly discuss it with him. And yet, if I had felt comfortable trusting him with blind faith, I know it would work out for the best, if not I understood his mistake. He’s the kind of manager you wonder why he’s not the general manager. And the reason is because he didn’t like Richard, and he only would make $200 more than being the second manager. I have to respect a man who put peace of mind over money.
Hours later, William and I are having our fifth drink as the party died down. I turned to him saying, “Like I keep saying, I can’t believe I’m going to be stuck with Richard’s human ass cleaner. You sure you can’t hang out until I quit?”
“When you plan on doing that Nick? You been here for three years.”
“This is just until I get my degree and the economic changes.”
“Really?” Translation: Is that the lie you want to tell yourself?
“You really think I wanna work with these clowns?”
William tilled his head and raised his eyebrows. “Who else is going to put up with you?”
“What you mean? I work by butt off and saved every manager in this house. But if I was so bad of an employee, you wouldn’t have saved my butt as many times as you did.”
He nodded. “Yes, because you worked hard and I didn’t want to be stuck with the other bussers. Plus, with you around, Donald actually had to do 20% of his job instead of 15%. But you had your moments that even challenged my patience.”
“Like?”
“When you poured three gallons of ice tea on that new trainee for saying something stupid to you.”
“I thought he called me a nigger.”
“He said snickers bar. And remember the time you and George (Blackwater) fought in the cook’s line? You almost pushed him into the fryers. Oh, and I can’t forget when you had sex with Laura Mason in the deep freezer. You should of been fired for that one.”
I grinned then smiled. “Good times, good times.”
“You know what keep you here? When all the power when out and Shelly forced us to say open. Donald had a meltdown and you took charge. Good on your part. That’s what saved you because Shelly was very happy with that. But you still got to cut back, you getting out of hand.”
“I wouldn’t be if Donald ran this restaurant like Thomas use to.” Thomas was my old general manager who was picky as all hell. But, very fair and keep everyone in line, even Richard. None of this crap that goes on here when on when he was here. Of course, he got fired because for some reason he couldn’t control labor cost. After about three general managers, who lasted a total of two months, Richard hired Donald.
William fiddled with his drink, “What you have to understand is that you fighting for something that wont change. I couldn’t change anything, and I’m a manager. What are you going to as a busser? As much as Richard hates you, you amazed me because no matter how much you complained, you would always work to be the best employee at here. I been doing this restaurant thing for 40 yrs, Nicholas, I’ve been treated the same, like shit! I’ve complained, I fought, physically fought, I’ve quit, I’ve gived suggestions, nothing changes anything. This is the way it’s suppose to be. You wanna fight for something, go fight for someone’s rights. Don’t think you’ll change anything cussing George or Lucy out. In fact, leave Lucy along, fighting her’s not worth it. I’m shocked you haven’t gotten fired when Richard talked to you.”
“I can’t let these guys push me around—”
“And yet they are because you’re going to do what they want anyways.”
I shook my head. “No.”
William leaned forward. “Do you really think anyone is worried about you quitting or going on a rant?”
“I never—”
“Exactly. Your rants are just more annoying that anything. You’re not a rebel with a cause, you’re the annoying in-law that we have to tolerate. So knowing this, why are you here?”
“Because I’m in—”He shook his head as if to say, ‘No, whatever you’re going to say is wrong.’
“I think you’re here because you think you got power and you like having cash every night.”
“What?”
“What happens if you start a new job.”
“I start from the bottom.”
“Yeah, you don’t have the seniority you have here. And you might have to wait two weeks for a pay check instead cash on hand five days a week.”
“Huh? I can give up the seniority and cash daily for sanity any day.”
“Prove it to yourself.” He swallowed the last bit of his drink, got out of his chair and handed me his personal business card. “Use me as a reference. And a reference only. I’ll call you if I want to talk to you about anything else.” We shook hands and said our final good-byes.
Authors bio is coming up shortly.
pretty interesting…